How a climate control concept contributes to corporate success.

EagleBurgmann, the industrial manufacturer of sealing solutions, moves in a new direction concerning climate control. Independent of whether it is summer or winter, an area of over 16,500 square meters is kept at a constant temperature by using a combination of concrete core cooling and gravity cooling systems. This creates best working conditions for employees, who daily produce high precision EagleBurgmann products. Furthermore, the air-conditioning concept has a wealth of positive side effects, which includes excellent energy balance and cost-effective operation.     

People and technology at the center of consideration.

Why should rooms be air-conditioned at all? Most of our working lives is spent indoors, where we physically and mentally perform to our fullest. Studies using volunteers show that performance is directly related to thermal comfort and air quality. For instance, when room temperature increases, comfort decreases and so does the mental performance. In addition to finding the usual climate solutions, the biggest challenge for the planners was to keep a constant temperature of 19°C in the assembly hall, which includes 32 large processing centers along with several other machines. 18 cranes of various designs did not allow the use of a conventional air-conditioner, which would take up too much space and create the danger of electromagnetic fields occurring from friction in the air. 

One concept – two methods.

The builder, architect, and planner jointly developed an air-conditioning concept that combines two mechanisms. First, the principle of tempering the concrete core, which would be heated and cooled. Pipe systems, in which water circulates, were installed in the concrete floor of the production hall. Depending on the temperature, circulating water absorbs the heat, which produces a cooling effect – or warm water is circulated to radiate heat. Groundwater is used, meaning the cooling energy is sustainable and economically obtainable from the geothermic source. 

The concrete core temperature control is combined with gravity cooling, which is based on the natural law of density of warm and cold air: warm air rises to the ceiling, flows into narrow, six-meter shafts and is cooled by 95 gravity coolers, i.e. cold groundwater flowing through air coolers. Cool air now passes through a drop shaft to the floor of the assembly hall. The natural, thermal air movement in the production areas is hardly measurable, results in comfortable temperatures for employees to work, and creates homogenous air distribution up to four meters high. 

With this highly innovative and sustainable climate concept, more business objectives are achieved. A climate controlled environment is not only created for best possible working conditions, but also for maximum production accuracy. The employees feel comfortable and the machines have the best conditions to produce high-precision components. Furthermore, by using groundwater, operating costs are about 75% lower than conventional air-conditioning, and CO2 emissions are considerably reduced, which makes an important contribution to environmental protection. Great, controlled climate!